The story behind Clarissa
Borrowed from Italian Clarissa, from Medieval Latin Clarissa; see there for more. Popularized in English by Samuel Richardson's 1748 novel Clarissa. Doublet of Clarisse.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Indonesian entry
Borrowed from Italian Clarissa.
Latin entry
From Clara + -issa (“-ess”), from Old Italian Chiara Offreduccio, St. Clare of Assisi, the founder of the order, from Latin clarus (“clear, bright”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /kləˈɹɪsə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Indonesian: /ˈklarisa/
- Latin; Classical-Latin: [kɫaˈrɪs.sa]
- Latin: [klaˈris.sa]
Popularity
Clarissa ranked #1114 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Clarissa
Calista
From Latin Callistus, from Ancient Greek Κάλλιστος (Kállistos, “most beautiful”), from καλός (kalós, “beautiful”). Compare Callisto.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Callista
Borrowed from Italian Callista, a conflation from two sources, both from Ancient Greek: * From Ancient Greek καλλίστη (kallístē), feminine of κάλλιστος (kállistos), superlative…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Camila
a female given name from Latin, equivalent to English Camilla or Camille a female given name from Latin, equivalent to English Camilla or Camille
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Camilla
From Latin Camilla, feminine form of old Roman family name Camillus, of obscure and probably non-Latin origin.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Candida
From Spanish Cándida, Candida, from Latin Candida, from candida, feminine of candidus (“shining white”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Cándida
Borrowed from Latin Candida, name of various saints, e.g. Candida the Elder; from candida, feminine of candidus (“shining white”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Clarissa
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Baldovino
From Latin Balduinus, from Frankish *Baldawin, from Proto-Germanic *Balþawiniz (literally “bold friend”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barbra
A female given name from Latin, a nonstandard spelling of Barbara. Associated with Barbra Streisand, who changed the spelling of her name from Barbara.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Clarissa
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abílio
Perhaps from Latin abilius (“not vindictive”). Possibly related to Abelardo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length